An ambassador lives in a city that is not his home. While he may love his neighbors, appreciate aspects of their culture, and find a measure of happiness in his post, he knows that he is not really home.
No matter where you live, if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you are not really home either. Your home is heaven and your current assignment in this world is to be Christ's ambassador, as though God were making His appeal through you (see 2 Corinthians 5:20).
True joy comes only to those who keep their eyes fixed on the City of God.
The early church lived and worked to glorify the name of God in this life because they were looking forward to the next. They planned for heaven and eternity. Their priority was holiness; ours is happiness. Their priority was sacrificing for God; ours is self-satisfaction. They measured success with an eternal perspective; ours is measured by how much we can accumulate.
True joy comes only to those who keep their eyes fixed on the City of God. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, "[W]e do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13:14).
Prayer: Father, help me to keep my heart and mind set on eternity with You. May this heavenward perspective align my daily routine and priorities with Your Kingdom. And may I have eyes to see how I can serve You and love others as Your ambassador in this world. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
"For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13:14).
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